T. B. Joshua and hope amidst a global crisis foretold

Nothing, safe the prophetic utterances, had given off 2020 as a year like no other. Expectations had been immense that the year would usher in great possibilities both at the local and international levels. Yet recent occurrences have proven otherwise.

In his characteristic manner, founder and senior cleric of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua, had informed since late last year that the world would be entering a period where the globe would be humbled.

He declared inter alia, “This year will be a year of humility. This year, the Lord will humble us with our challenges. Challenges can be affliction, arrogance, pride, wickedness or bad habits… Let us move closer to God. Agriculture will help the economy because the economy will have a backlash. People should invest in agriculture. Let us farm to help the economy…

“America should invest more in agriculture because their economy will be affected. The economy they see today will be affected, so they should invest in agriculture and encourage their farmers. Also, approach to the security issue will affect the candidates and swing voters in the next election. It will be tough in the election. They should pray against a recount. It may be too tight…

“Work of God – people will be getting tired this year because the work of God is not by power and might; because of so many challenges, tribulations and burdens they will not be able to bear…”

Virtually all these prophetic signals have come to pass.

With the enervating spread of the coronavirus and the trail of deaths in its wake, there is a growing hysteria the world over. Nations are closing their borders: air, land and water. These are not ordinary times, to say the least. Europe, as in other continents, has seen a distressing downward economic turn.

The United States of America is equally struggling to contain the spread of the virus and to keep its citizens safe. As part of recent efforts to achieve this, President Donald Trump announced sweeping travel restrictions on 26 European countries in a bid to combat the spread of the coronavirus. The ban applies to travellers from countries which are members of the Schengen border-free travel area. The European Union condemned the measures, which it said were taken “unilaterally and without consultation”.

In Nigeria, as well as other countries, there are growing travel bans and more internal restrictions: schools are being shut and public gatherings, including church outings are not left out.

However the renowned cleric has warned the US government that “This travel ban on flights from Europe will cause a backlash. It will affect the American economy the more and also the world economy.

“It will also affect the forthcoming election in America – in one way or another. The travel ban is not the best way to stop the spread of coronavirus. The initial measures America put in place are the best way – they just need to be reinforced.

“Coronavirus is fear and fear lingers in the air. Fear does not need to fly to America or any other country on a plane before being contracted. In conclusion, we are on our knees praying.”

An obviously worried individual had written to the prophet saying, “what shall we call this period we are in—where you cannot give your neighbor a handshake, you cannot cough in public, travel to Jerusalem or Mecca for pilgrimage has been prohibited, people no longer share the Holy Communion cup, Pope Francis is performing Mass through video, many churches are holding services online, universities such as Harvard have closed, in many countries there are no gatherings of people more than ten and even President Trump said the situation is not under control. What can you say?”

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In his response, Prophet Joshua said “Don’t forget what Jesus said to His disciples, to Simon Peter in Luke 22:32, “I pray your faith will not fail.” It is a prophetic word. Jesus was prophesying about what was to come—a time like this. He knew something was coming that would challenge our faith, that would take the faith from many, that would stop people from worshipping. But I don’t see anything to panic about because Jesus said in John 16:33, ‘in this world you will have tribulation—but cheer up: I have overcome the world.’

“Don’t forget what I said at the beginning of the year—‘Work of God—people will be getting tired this year because the work of God is not by power and might; because of so many challenges, tribulations and burdens they will not be able to bear.’

“Real faith thrives on a test. If there was nothing serious in the past to test our faith, here is something to test our faith in a unique way—a real situation. What an opportunity to grow in faith, in our relationship with God!

“What can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:38,39)? Can the coronavirus? Can death? Nothing!”

Another individual asked that since Prophet Joshua prophesied that the voice of the coronavirus will be silenced by the end of March, there are fears and concern. To this Prophet Joshua answered, “I say again, it is the remnants we are seeing. The real coronavirus is gone. What we are seeing now are the remnants. But what the coronavirus has caused –economic backlash, fear—will linger until the end of the year.”

While the world continues in panic, the call to have faith in God resonates now more than ever.

Oyetimi writes via joyetimi2002@gmail.com

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE